The Honda HR-V has been a popular compact SUV in Malaysia and they have sold over 110,000 units locally since its official local introduction in 2015. With the arrival of newer contenders like the Proton X50 and Toyota Corolla Cross, Honda Malaysia has finally released its all-new model for 2022 and it’s priced from RM114,800.

Unlike our ASEAN neighbours, Honda Malaysia is offering three different powertrains for the all-new HR-V. The base HR-V S model gets a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine which is similar to the one that’s powering the Honda City and City Hatcback. The 4-cylinder 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine produces 121 PS (119hp) and 145Nm of torque with a rated 0-100 acceleration time of 12.1 seconds.

For those who are looking for higher performance, Honda is also offering the 1.5-litre turbo engine that’s similar to the new Civic for the E and V models. The 4-cylinder 1.5-litre DOHC VTEC Turbo engine produces 181PS (179hp) and 240Nm of torque, and it boasts a 0-100 time of 8.7 seconds for the E and 8.8 seconds for the V model. All three 1.5-litre petrol models are paired to a CVT, and the two turbo engine variants come with paddle shifters.

Meanwhile, the range topping RS e:HEV model is a hybrid which gets a 4-cylinder 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine running on an Atkinson cycle and it’s paired to a dual-motor i-MMD. The e:HEV powertrain is similar to the one you’ll find on the City RS and City Hatchback RS but Honda has given it a boost with the petrol engine pushing 107PS (106hp) and 131Nm of torque, while the electric motor pushes 131PS (129hp) and 253Nm of torque. The battery on the HR-V is also larger with a 60-cell pack versus the City’s 48-cell pack. In terms of acceleration, the HR-V RS e:HEV can hit from 0 to 100km/h in 10.7 seconds.

Being a hybrid, the HR-V RS e:HEV boasts a fuel consumption figure of 4.1 litre per 100km which is more economical compared to the 1.5-litre NA’s 5.9 litre per 100km and the 1.5-litre Turbo’s 6.5 litre per 100km.

When it comes to safety, Honda no longer reserves its advanced safety features for the top-spec model. The Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance safety systems are offered as standard across the new HR-V range including the entry-level S variant. This includes Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Auto High Beam (AHB), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow (LSF) and Lead Car Departure Notificaiton (LCDN).

However, only the top three variants get 6 airbags while the base S model settles for just four as it lacks side curtain airbags. Meanwhile, the Honda LaneWatch Camera feature which provides a video feed of your blindspot on the infortainment display is only available on the V and RS models.

All four HR-V models get electronic parking brake with auto-hold, hill start assist, multi-angle reverse camera and four reverse sensors.

The HR-V for Malaysia comes with an 8″ touch-screen infortainment system as standard which supports Apple Car Play and Android Auto via USB-C. Unfortunately, there’s no wireless Apple Car Play so you’ll have to connect your phone via USB cable. All models get a 4-speaker setup while the V and RS model gets extra four tweeter speakers. The HR-V also comes with a Honda Connect feature where you can access your vehicle remotely via your smartphone but this is only available on the V and RS model.

The new HR-V gets an updated interior and the biggest upgrade is the air-con controls. Unlike the previous HR-V which has an all-touch panel, the new model gets physical dials and buttons which provides a more satisfying tactile feel, making it more practical to use while driving. Another stand out feature is its side air-con vents which allows you to switch between closed, normal and diffusion mode, if you want to cool the air without having the wind blowing directly to you face.

Unlike the Thai market, the Malaysian HR-V RS doesn’t come with a glass roof and it lacks wireless charging. The new HR-V finally gets rear aircon as standard across the range and this is a notable upgrade from the current HR-V. For the lower S and E models, it gets a urethane steering wheel and fabric seat combo. The higher V and RS models get leather wrapped steering and leather seats. The 8-way power seat is offered only on the V and RS models.

Also retained are Honda’s signature ULTRA seats which allows you to carry tall or longer items with greater flexibility. This is made possible by having the fuel tank mounted underneath the front passenger seats.

The new HR-V features a more chunky appearance while retaining a “coupe” SUV looks. Similar to its predecessor, the rear door handles are placed on the C-pillar to give the appearance of a 3-door vehicle.

Comparing with the outgoing model, the all-new HR-V is slightly longer at 4,385mm for the higher spec models and it retains a similar 2610 wheelbase. Internally, rear occupants can expect more knee room, legroom and slightly more recline angle than the previous model.

The HR-V gets auto LED headlights, with sequential turn signals as well as LED daytime running lights as standard across the range. The rear gets a sharper-looking combi lights with clear lens and there’s a red strip that runs across the width of the car. The compact SUV comes in five colours – Platinum White Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Ruse Black Metallic, Ignite Red Metallic and Meteroid Gray Metallic.

The HR-V RS offers all the bells and whistles including extra body kits and elements for its exterior. In Malaysia, the HR-V RS is the e:HEV hybrid model and it comes with smoked rear LED combi lights, sports pedals, hands-free power tailgate, dual-zone auto air-con, auto wiper and a deceleration paddle selector to control the regenerative braking.

Here’s the official pricing for the Honda HR-V 2022 in Malaysia:

The listed prices are On-the-Road (OTR) without insurance for Peninsular Malaysia and it is inclusive of SST. For customers that booked the HR-V 2022 by 30th June, they will be eligible to enjoy a slight price reduction with SST exemption. Overall, the new HR-V costs more than the previous generation model but it’s worth highlighting that Honda has upgraded its safety offering by including Honda Sensing as standard to all models.

According to Honda Malaysia, they have received over 20,000 bookings for the all-new HR-V and the current waiting period is 12 months. It added that the first month will be a litmus test for the brand and it would be interesting to see how many of the total bookings would translate to actual sales. Honda Malaysia targets to sell 1,600 units of the new HR-V on a monthly basis. During today’s event, they shared that 20% of total current bookings received are for the hybrid model, 5% are for the base 1.5-litre NA model while the rest are for the 1.5-litre Turbo models.